Rajoy and Cameron discuss Gibraltar twice at G20: Spain

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said Friday that he had twice discussed the dispute over Gibraltar with British counterpart David Cameron in course of the two day G20 summit in Russia.

The talks were "useful," Rajoy said, calling for "common sense."

The two have also agreed to discuss the issue further in the future.

The British territory claimed by Spain has stoked tensions between London and Madrid ever since Gibraltar created an artificial reef by dumping 70 concrete blocks into the sea in July to close access by Spanish fishermen to the shellfish-rich area.

The territory which lies on the southern tip of Spain measures just 6.8 square kilometres (2.6 square miles) and is home to about 30,000 people.

Gibraltar overlooks the only entrance to the Mediterranean from the Atlantic Ocean. Its economy is dominated by offshore banking, Internet gambling operations and tourism.

Spain ceded Gibraltar to Britain in perpetuity in 1713 but has long argued that it should be returned to Spanish sovereignty. London says it will not do so against the wishes of Gibraltarians, who are staunchly pro-British.